Gripping device.



for the center contact 12 to keep the contacts 1'2 GRIPPING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

zitei'ited Sept. 31,

Application filed ,Tilly 26, 1915. Serial No. 42,106.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improveinents in Gripping Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingj forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to and more specifically to lamp gripping sockets, that is, to lamp sockets provided with means for holding the lamp against accidental loosening due to vibration or like causes. One of the objects of my invention is to improve upon devices of this characterand to provide a simple and economical construetion which will etfectually hold the lamp in the socket.

In the accompanying drawings in which .`[l have illustrated one embodiment of my invention` y Figure 1 is a bottom plan viewV of a skeleton lamp socket embodying my invention; Fig. 2' is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; an Y 4 Fig. 3 is a seetionon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Referring now to the drawings iii detail, I have shown my invention in 'connection with a skeleton lamp socket (that is, a socket in which insulation is not provided around the shell contact) comprising an insulating base 10 which supports the contacts and the binding terminals, and by means of which the device is secured in place on a support, a threaded shell contact 11, and a center iontact 12, both supported on the base l'Ofor engagement with the correspondingcontacts of the lamp base, binding terminals 13 and 14 connected with the shell and center contacts, respectively, securing means 15 and 16 for fastening the contacts Vand binding terminals in place on the base l0, and a slniing lamp gripping device 18 'for engaging the shell contact on the lamp base as the latter is insert-ed in the contact 11 to hold it in place therein. The base 10 is provided with a U-shaped boss 19 forming a backing and also serving and 11 separate, openings 20 through which the securing means 1li extends, recesses 21 in which the heads of the fastening means 15 and 16 are seated, recesses 22 in which the binding terminals gripping devices comprises a spring tongue aportion 3S 13 and 1+i are located, and openings Q3 through-which the securing means 1C cxtends.

The boss 19 is provided with lateral cxtensions Q4 having openings 25 therein into which the spring lamp gripping device 1li; extends.

The threaded shell contact. 11 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 26 through which the securing nieans 15 and 1G extend to hold the contact in place on the base, and is cnt away at 2i' to lpermit the binding terminal 1l to be connected with the center contact 1Q. The shell 11 is also provided with helical slots 281m opposite sides which follow the pitch of the threads and through which portions of the lamp gripping device 18 extend for engagement with the lamp base. The center Contact l2 portieri for en gageinent with the center contact of the lamp vand a base portion 230 through which one of the securing means l5 extends to hold the contact on the base 1() and in electricai connection with the binding terminal, l-l.

rlhe binding terminals and 11i are dnplicates and each comprises a biinling plate 31 having an nptnrned wire retainingportion 32, a binding screw 33 tlneaded-intthe plate 3l and aY binding piatti/.34 between which and the 'binding plate 31 'the end of the wire is gripped.

For the securing` means 15 andl 1G I have vused hollow rivets or eyelets which are flanged over as shown at 35, 3G and 237 to hohl the contacts and binding terminals in electrical connection with each other and also to hold them on the base 10.

lhe lamp gripping device 18 coniprises a U-shaped portion 3S, the opposite sides of which extend thrmigh the slots 28 into cn gageinent with the lamp base, and two leg portions 39 extending substantially at right angles to the piane of the U-shaped portion 3S, thev ends of which are .seated and fit loosely in the openings Q5 in the base 10.

The use and operation of my improved device is as follows: As the lamp 'oase 'is screwed into the shell l'l. the entering end of the base engages thc parts of the U-shaped which extend within the shell and force the latter outwardly sutlciently to allow the base to make contact with the center contact 12 of the socket. The tension of the gripping device 18 is such as to hold 'meansl tor retaining a lamp base in place in said shell contact comprising a U-shaped portion tor en'ibracing said lamp base,'and a leg portion extending at an angle tothe plane ot' the U-sliaped portion, said insulating base havingan opening to receive said lee 2. In.- a device of the class described an linsulating base, a shell contact supported by and extending froni said base, and yielding lainp clamping means positioned to be distorted as the, lanip base is inserted in the shell contact supported directly by said' insulating base, said yielding means coniprising an elongated portion extending vtroni said insulating base, alongside said shell,

substantially parallel to the axis et' said' shell, and a portion supported by said elongated portion t'or exerting pressure on the lamp-base.

3. In a device of the class described an insulating base, a shell contact supported by and extending troni said base, and. yielding lainp clamping means positioned to be distorted as the lainp is inserted in the shell Contact supported directly by said base, said yielding means comprising a portion extend? ing from and supported directly by said base" substantially parallel to the axis of said shell,- and two I )ortions connectedtogether and to said first portion for engaging opposite sides ot' the lainp base as it is inserted.

4. In a device of the classdescribed an -insulating base, a shell contact supported by and extending trom said hase, and yieldingr lamp clamping means positioned to be distorted as the lamp is inserted inthe shell Contact supported by said base, said yielding ineans comprising a yoke having portions for engaging opposite sides of the lainp base and comprising also two portionsl supported directly by said base, one extending from each side of the yoke substantially parallel to the axis of the shell.

5. In a device of the class described an insulating base, a shell contact having its outer part exposed supported by and ex'- tendingfrom said base, and yielding lamp clamping 'means positioned to be distorted asthe lamp is inserted in the shell contact supported by said base, said yielding meansv comprising a'yoke having portions for engaging opposite sides of the lamp base and two portions, one extending from each side of the yoke substantially parallel to the axis ofthe shell, said base having openings into which said parallel portions extend.

6. A receptacle comprising an insulating base and a shell contact supported thereby, yielding lainp clamping means positioned to be distorted as the lainp base is inserted in the shell contact, said yielding means come prising a U-shaped' portion for embracing Vsaid lanip base and two leg portions extending at an .angleto the plane of the U- shaped portion, said insulating base having openings into which the leg portions extend4 and tit loosely. p

7. In a device of the class described an insulating base, a shell contact having its outer part exposed supported by and extending troni 'said base, and yielding lainp clamping means positioned to be distorted as the lainp is inserted in the shell iontact supported by said base, said yielding .means comprising a 'yokehaving portions for engaging opposite sides ofi the lanip base and two portions, one extending troni each side ottlie yoke substantially parallel to the axis ot the shell` said shell having openings through which portionsot the, yoke extend.

ln witness whereof. l have hereunto subscribed iny naine.

ltllllllllN l. BENJAMIN. 

